PUNE: Steve Smith's journey as a vital cog in Pune's wheel hasn't been that smooth.
In 2009, he was in the auction pool but wasn't picked by any franchise. He was signed the next year by Bangalore as replacement for Jessy Ryder, who is now his teammate. But the 22-year-old Australian did not get a game.
Kochi Tuskers Kerala signed him for the base price of $200,000 last year. However, an ankle injury prevented him from playing.
The middle-order batsman, who also bowls leg-spin, was in the auction pool this year for the base price of $200,000 after Kochi was suspended by the Board. But as the franchises have to do the balancing act between players and spending cap, Smith was not picked by any team.
Pune, who did not participate in the auction due to their differences with the BCCI, signed him later after he captained Sydney Sixers to Big Bash title in Australia. Finally, Smith got his first IPL game with his third team this year. And he bagged Man of the Match on debut helping Pune beat Mumbai in their own den.
Smith has held his own in the season so far with 194 crucial runs at 38.8 with a strike rate of 152.75 (before the start of Pune-Hyderabad game). And he has been the tiger in the field. In T20 internationals for Australia, his T20 average is just 15 and in ODIs 22.8.
Smith had been to India for the World Cup last year. Australia decided to replace him withCameron White for the quarterfinal against India which they lost.
Smith's story of rejection and his search for redemption is symptomatic of Pune team.
Captain Ganguly himself was rejected by all franchise in the auction last year. Even other members have something to prove to the cricket fans and national selectors. Leggie Rahul Sharma and paceman Ashok Dinda are not yet certainties for Team India. Robin Uthappa has failed to cement his place with Men in Blue. Murali Kartik feels he is not far from being the best left-arm spinner in the world but men who matter may not feel so. Left-arm pacemanAshish Nehra, who was a part of the World Cup team but did not play the final after suffering a finger injury, is also trying to get back at selectors.
Manish Pandey got an unbeaten 200 vs Mumbai in Mumbai in his last Ranji game. But had to sit out in frustration due to hernia surgery in a season which could have boosted his Test berth aspirations.
Angleo Mathews and Tamim Iqbal have made a name for themselves at the international level. But other foreign playes in Pune team (Callum Ferguson, Wayne Parnell, Marlon Samuels, Jesse Ryder, Alfonso Thomas, Luke Wright) are still searching their place at the highest level. And Aussie Test and ODI skipper Michael Clarke, who is supposed to join the team next week, has to prove his T20 credentials more than anyone else after retiring from the shortest version.
But there can be one distinct advantage with such group. The likelihood of class division in the team is less since no player is current international 'star'. It's easier to unite such angry and hungry players towards a common goal.
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